Improvement in clamps for pressing leaves



C.,W. HOLBBDOK..

Clamp for Pressing Leaves.

/Mz @ew NPETERS. PHOTQMTMOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, n c,

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEIGE.

CHARLES W. HOLBROOK, OF WINDSOR LOCKS, CONNECTICUT.

lMPRVO'l/YEMENT IN CLAMPS FOR PRESSING LEAVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,608, dated August 10, 1875; application iiled June 23, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. HOL- BRooK, of Windsor- Locks, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improved Clamp for Pressing Leaves, Sto.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the 4accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

My invention relates to a portable device for collecting and pressing ferns, leaves, &c.,

. and for similar purposes.

The invention consists in a novel construction, arrangement, and combination of a pair of boards, two bars or braces, a cord or cords, a windlass, and a bridge -piece and head, whereby the boards may be securely held in place with any desired number of leaves or thickness of material clamped between them, and as readily released and separated when desired.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved clampingpress. Fig. 2 is a section taken in the linex ot' Fig. l.

The boards B1 B2 may be made of wood or any other suitable material. The board B1 is represented as provided with battens b, having holes in their lower ends, through which the ends of the cord C are passed and secured by knotting them 5 but if the board is made sufficientlyv strong the battens may be dispensed with, and the lower edge of the board may be provided with lugs for securing the ends of the cord. The upper edge of the board B1 is provided with a rib or head, E, formed on or attached to it on the inner side. In the top of this head are two eyes, f j, for the passage of the cord C, as shown. The board B2 corresponds with the shape of the board B1, but is not provided with battens or lugs. The bars D D are longer than the width of 'the board B2, and have holes al at both ends for the passage of the cord, which holes may be provided with metal eyelets. On the outer sides of the bars D are grooves e for the reception ofthe cord, so that itmay be prevented from extending beyond the surface of the bars. On the top of the head E is a bridge-piece, G, in which works a windlass, J, provided with a handle, H. The windlass and bridge-piece may be provided with a pawl and ratchet of any suitable construction, for securing the windlass in place, or they may be constructed as shown in the drawing, in which case the bridge-piece is provided with notched recesses g, and the windlass with correspondinglyshaped lugs '71, for engagement with said notches. The lower end of the windlass works in a step-bearing in the head with sufiicient freedom to allow it to rise and fall to engage the lugs z' with the notched'recesses g, or disen gage them therefrom.

The cord C is passed through a hole in the windlass J until said windlass is midway of the length ofthe cord. The ends of the cord are then passed through the eyes f, the holes d in the bars D, and the lugs or perforated lower ends of the battens b, and are secured by knotting or tying them. The handle is then turned so as t0 rotate the windlass and wind the cord thereon. When the cord is wound sufliciently tight, the handle is slightly pulled outward so as to cause the lugsto engage with the recesses g, and thus the parts are securely held in position. When the handle is pushed inward, the lugs and recesses are disengaged, and the cord may be readily unwound, and the boards separated.

It' desired, the eyes f may be replaced by eyelet-mounted holes in the upper ends of the battens b, or by lugs formed on or attached to the upper edge of the board B1, and two cords may be used instead of a single one, if preferred.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The clamp or press composed of the boards B1 B2, bars D D, cord or cords C, windlass J, bridge-piece G, and head E, substantially as -and for the purpose herein described.

GHAS. W. HOLBROOK. Witnesses:

CHARLES E. PRICE, J. W. JoHNsoN. 

